“Our study has sequenced 20 whole mitochondrial genomes and utilized next generation sequencing to obtain 3 whole nuclear genomes from purported Sasquatch samples. The genome sequencing shows that Sasquatch mtDNA is identical to modern Homo sapiens, but Sasquatch nuDNA is a novel, unknown hominin related to Homo sapiens and other primate species. Our data indicate that the North American Sasquatch is a hybrid species, the result of males of an unknown hominin species crossing with female Homo sapiens.”

Wow, so that’s all very science-y sounding and official and stuff. It must be true. Mustn’t it?

RIIIIIIGHT.

There are several significant issues with this. First is this line from the news release, “Full details of the study will be presented in the near future when the study manuscript publishes.”

That is a massive red flag. Real research scientists almost never pre-announce their research findings. That is, they don’t go public with big news until it has been vetted by peer reviewers and, at the very least, been accepted for publication. In this case Ketchum is stating a discovery as scientific fact before other scientists have studied her evidence. In effect she is using the mantle of science to confer credibility on her discovery, without actually deserving the credibility.

That’s a big no-no.

Ketchum, while indeed a scientist, does have credibility issues herself. Her company, DNA Diagnostics, gets an “F” from the Better Business Bureau, and has had more than two dozen complaints lodged against it.

Secondly, the news release makes no mention whatsoever of the source of DNA for this study. Wouldn’t you think there’d be a real live Sasquatch from which to get the DNA before you’d actually have the DNA?

A rational person might.

Bigfeet apparently love to nosh these and play tricks on humans.

Some digging for this eventually led me to a blog post by Robert Lindsay discussing the source. Apparently the DNA comes from — I kid you not — blueberry bagel-loving Bigfeet in Michigan.

Ketchum’s spokesman seems to be Robin Lynne, a longtime Bigfoot habituator who lives in rural Michigan. She claims that there are up to 10 Bigfoots living around her property, and every day, she feeds them a variety of foods including Blueberry bagels, which they are particularly fond of. A lot of people have ridiculed her story, but according to information I have, there may indeed be Bigfoots on the property assuming some of the things she is relating are actually occurring.

For instance, one morning, Robin went out to her feeding box and found it locked! She heard noises inside, and when she opened it, the food was gone and there was an opossum inside!

She let the opossum out, but she was puzzled. Sure the possum could possibly have gotten into the box, but there is no way the possum could have gotten into the box and then locked the door to it afterwards. Shades of a locked room mystery here. Lynne concluded that the Bigfoots must have put the opossum into the box as a joke.

That’s conclusive evidence right there! I mean let’s completely dismiss the possibility that a human could have locked the feeding box. No, in this case, Occam’s Razor leads us to the conclusion that a Bigfoot must have locked it to play a trick on Lynne.

RIIIIIIGHT.

But wait, there’s more gold in Lindsay’s blog post. In it he refers to an original draft of Ketchum’s paper that mentioned, I kid you not, angel DNA.

A source tells me that Wally Hersom has discussed the initial version of Ketchum’s paper. According to Hersom, the paper is very well written, but its conclusions are hard to take.

Ketchum writes that there are aspects of the Bigfoot nuclear subhuman DNA that she cannot find in any DNA database, and according to her, this means that the DNA is not of this Earth. In the paper, she reportedly refers to this as “angel DNA.” Whether she is trying to say that it is from angels literally or whether this is her way of saying that it’s from outer space, I do not know.

Hersom was reportedly disappointed in the paper and averred that while this may be true, no scientific journal on Earth is going to publish anything about “angel DNA.” I would certainly agree with that statement. Sure, maybe there is “angel DNA” in the Bigfoots. For all I know, this may be true. But on the other hand, of course no journal will touch this with a 10-foot pole.

So this is all pretty delicious and completely nonsensical.

At this point I should probably remind readers that there’s not at present a shred of credible scientific evidence that a Bigfoot, or Bigfeet, exist in North America, or anywhere in the world. These are, in fact, mythical creatures. What about the paper, you say? Well, almost anything is possible. This paper, if it is ever accepted by a reputable journal, will be closely analyzed. Almost certainly it will be found to be false. At this point it is nothing more than a long line of “claims” about the existence of Bigfoot.

It is not incumbent upon rational people to disprove the existence of Bigfoot. It is incumbent upon those making extraordinary claims to back them up with real evidence. I would be thrilled if we discovered another ape-like species in North America that walks around in the woods but is never photographed clearly, despite the ubiquity of cameras in the modern world.

But I am also a rational person. And what’s very likely happening here is that Ketchum is making a documentary and looking to cash in on the third of America that believes in Bigfoot.

221 Responses

I read in a UFO magazine that “Bigfoot” is a shape-shifter, which is why there is not a shred of credible physical evidence regarding his existence. So let’s quit tilting at windmills, because it’s literally impossible to deal with a shape-shifter. Any qualified scientist should realize that.

I like how they have “Several” Bigfoots running around their property, but no game cameras.
I’d like to tell them about this mythical place I once saw that had many different game cameras, some with Motion activated Infrared HD Video.
Now I only caught a brief glimpse of this place through the small newly planted trees at a strip center. I could just barely make out the word: “Academy”.
I’ll probably never see it again.
But if you ask me, I’m a believer.

Why do people find it so hard to believe that there is an ape-like species out there who can manage to avoid being photographed? After all, scientists have already proved the existence of the “anti-Bigfoot”, homo sapiens kardashian.

While I’m not an expert on genetics the description in her copyright claim that “Sasquatch is indeed a modern human with some genetic mutations accounting for their physical appearance” doesn’t sound that earth shattering scientifically. So, someone sent in a DNA sample of unknown origin, and it turned out to be a “weird” looking Human?

I was thinking the same thing. Regardless of what the sample if from, if science demonstrates that the sample is from a cross between a primate and a homosapien, that is pretty astounding. I would like to know if it is genetically possible for the two to cross breed.

Being that I attended SFA in Nacogdoches, I can attest that Bigfoots exist. They are stupid, socialists, liars, corrupt, thieves, always blaming others for their own faults/mistakes/errors and prey on the ignorant and have no concept of Foreign policy or Economic policy. One was just elected POTUS several weeks ago.

What will it take for bigfoot hunters to change their opinion on Sasquatch. If there’s no evidence which will prove sufficient and all negative evidence just moves the goalposts further down the road, then why bother? Just pat them on the head, say “Good Boy/Girl”, and keep them away from sharp objects, writing implements, and computers.

How are rational, reasonable scientists supposed to prove a negative? That’s not what science does.

The research cannot be replicated without getting a copy of the samples. In the absence of that, all we can do is judge her based on her past performance, which has been full of fraud.

If you do have a set of “Bigfoot hair” or other sample to test, then may I suggest that you send it to these folks? Unlike Ketchum, they are not believers in Bigfoot nor fraud artists; I suspect that any paper they submit would have a much easier time of getting published.

What she is doing is what a lot of “experts” do. She is no different from “historians” who make alternate histories in which the founders envisioned a Christian Theocracy as the pinnacle of civilization, or people selling lecture tours about why we really should hate Islam, or who sell talking head time discounting science to people who wish it were not true, whether it is climate science or economics. Car dealers have known for a long time that a good liar can make a lot more money than an honest person.

So now we find out that the National Enquirer has an R & D arm. Good for them. Now maybe those naysayers that claim so boldly that their stories are fake and deny their credibility will sit down and enjoy a big helping of humble bagel.

There’s plenty of science to criticize here–let’s not make this about you and who you consider to be physically attractive. That just detracts from the actual arguments, and makes you look like an idiot who has nothing constructive to say.

Oh dear. This story has a very long and sordid history. If you have been following it, you might know that Robert Lindsay is not a source any legitimate reporter would be using. Yes, Dr Ketchum has admitted to observing a family of Bigfoots. But, as you note, the major flaw is the samples themselves. Everything in this story is doubtful from top to bottom.

LOL Another day, another Bigfoot article. For something that so many people say does not and cannot exist, it sure is getting a lot of presstime.

As for me, I hope there is never a clear determination. There will be fakes and frauds, but there will also be that possibiliyt of what it. I hope there will always be that little bit of mystery when you walk into one of the great forests of the Pacific Northwest. but, that is just me.

The only reason it was released early is because there was a leak of information and she had to make a public announcement since the info was already being talked about. This fact has been mentioned in several places on the web.

Don’t bother, not one of these geniuses here cares about that little thing that just might make sense, about the context of history of this study that would make a premature press release an absolutely logical step, or about the ridiculously obvious fallacy of the article when it uses blog posts of that colorful bloke Lindsay – not associated with the study (other than the occasion when Ketchum herself expressed contempt for the rubbish he publishes that make the rounds)- to discredit the study… Or, for that matter, for the fact that even on this colorful blog (repeat, that has nothing to do with the study), the completely non-scientist Lindsay used quotes in “angel DNA” while in the article there’s none? Well, who’s being scientific and who “National Inquirer“ level?
Not one of these geniuses here cares about any possible clue that anything whatsoever is not as they presume or need it to be, and are ignorant of huge scientific and non-scientific pressures an out-of-canon study can be under (like that never happened in the history of science?!). Guys like these here are the ones that prevent discoveries and burn ideas, books and people at stakes.
Some true scientists already expressed their doubts over this extraordinary claim (which is just normal), but adding that they can’t wait to see the results.

thank you Cfaile for providing this very valuable missing link .. the fact of a leak certainly would invite such action on her part, because the leak would have just laid an introductory groundwork of snickering mockery to the upcoming official announcement.
and Sinkroo whereas i agree with all your socio-journalistic comments i must disagree with one attitude kinda like Cfaile’s post is a waste of time. no.
the number of mediaeval-minded scoffers that fill this pages is incommensurate with the plethora of readers who pursue ultimate reality by means of rational and patient scientific investigation.

“Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.”

There is actually an organization that does investigations into claims that seem to be paranormal or pseudo-scientific phenomenon and publishes a bimonthly magazine. That is the “Skeptical Inquirer”. Website is http://www.csicop.org

Let’s say for the sake of argument that I was at my deer lease. Then out of the woods comes “Bigfoot”. I see an opportunity to provide the body everyone wants so I shoot the hairy fellow. Afterwards I realize I killed a guy in a suit. What happens to me?

Jebby: proving the GOP attracts nothing but uneducated, social conservatives with every post, under multiple aliases. Poor guy, he can’t help it. Can you draw us a picture, in crayon, of baby Jeebus riding a dinosaur for us?

“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come,” Jesus the Christ Matt 12:31-32

I may be mistaken, but I’m pretty sure “OMG” stands for “Not everyone believes the same thing you do, so stop enforcing your beliefs on others.” It may also stand for “…and stop crying when people who don’t believe in your god/book refuse to refer to he/she/it with reverence.” It may possibly also stand for “…and stop being such an insufferable twit.” I think “OMG” stands for one of those.

Bigfoot is a myth without question. The evidence is found in the lack of evidence. If ‘Bigfoot’ has been around for as long as the ‘experts’ claim, then where are the remains of the dead? They don’t live forever plus where are the young ones? No one has ever claimed to have seen any Bigfoot other than the adults. They also can die at/during birth. They can be killed by other, larger animals. Where are the skeletal remains? A skull the size of a beachball ought to be easy enough to find laying on the ground. Do you think they eat their dead, bones & all? Does the Bigfoot Community have a cemetary just for them? No remains=No Bigfoot. Not now, not ever.

Lack of evidence should never be confused with evidence of a lack. The world is full of possibilities. Often what appears to be a lack of evidence is merely ignorance of what evidence to look for. However, science is not the process of accepting what has not been disproven, it is about finding what can be found, and verifying what is observed. Any time an assumption is made that the observation is self-evident or above review, the method is not scientific. For example, in this case, there is no evidence provided that shows that the DNA that was sequenced is reliably from the creature it is claimed to be. To make any determingation about the creature from what may be several samples of saliva is just beyond weak.

While lack of evidence is not evidence of lack, it is still lack of evidence, and a scientific claim must be made based on evidence.

There are many people unable to consider the possibilty that this creature may exist. Their box is too small. There are too many credible reports to write it all off as hoaxes. In addition the accident videos you can see on youtube are quite convincing it does exist. Personally I think the best video proof it does is the Freeman Footage. Around the 4:05 mark you can definately see this thing walking through the forest. Writing it all off as folklore is often from people that have done zero research on the available evidence.

Awesome – I see that the company provides forensic and expert witness services for court. I wonder how many court cases have been determined based on evidence provided by this company, and if any lawyers are accordingly planning to have evidence dismissed on account of recent ridiculous claims.

Your honor, if their lab is capable of proving that Bigfoot ate a bagel, certainly they can make it look like my client was at the scene!

This is, of course, all presuming that this isn’t the next in a long line of internet hoaxes. The jury is still out on that one.

“the same ones who can not prove or disprove Jesus Christ”. Of what? What does that even mean? Are there people who claim “I can prove Jesus Christ” or “I can disprove Jesus Christ”? The way you’ve worded this, I have to ask, what’s being proved or disproved? IT MAKES NO SENSE.

Because there’s no evidence, Mike. None. And there would be if another bipedal ape lived in North America. Fossils. Scat. Bodies. Living creatures. Any of the above. But there’s none. Just some hazy photographs and a TV show.

Because rational people make judgements based on fact, not supposition or emotion. It is irrational to believe in the existence of Bigfoot when there is not one shred of credible evidence. Just as it is irrational to believe in the Loch Ness Monster or vampires or wizards or even “higher beings”. I’m not saying you can’t or shouldn’t believe in any or all of those things, but just pointing out that it is not rational to do so.